KUALA LUMPUR – Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim found himself having to allay fears of foreigners over the rise of the “green wave”, assuring them that the initial hype has petered out.
Speaking at a forum at the Council on Foreign Relations (CFR) in New York two weeks ago, the prime minister was questioned on the spread of the political “green wave” anchored by PAS.
Anwar said the results of the six state elections where his unity coalition won three states; and the recent Johor by-elections where Perikatan Nasional lost the Pulai parliamentary and Simpang Jeram state contests are proof that the wave is losing steam.
He also suggested that the performance of his coalition is proof Malaysians want a government that is moderate, open and has the best interest of all its people at heart.
However, Anwar also said in a democracy, one cannot win everything.
“It gives us some sense of humility,” he said in jest.
“Dealing with those who are the proponents of racism, religious bigotry is not easy. And we have to deal with this. But we need to sustain the level of support.
“There are three important, vibrant-economically vibrant states we won. You don’t expect in democracy you should win it all.”
Despite the racially tinged rhetoric spread by the Perikatan Nasional (PN) leadership, Anwar maintains the government is committed to assuring Malay-Muslims of their protected status in the country.
He added that discussions about the Malaysia Madani concept, economic progress, reducing inflation and unemployment rates, and attracting new investments may not necessarily resonate with rural communities.
“We will have to deal with the rise (of racial and religious rhetoric) and some extreme appeals for religious support. We’ll have to communicate (with citizens) more effectively.
“We need to engage them by reassuring them that they will continue to be protected as Malays and Muslims in the country.”
Anwar also said that such initiatives should include efforts to educate people about how the survival and well-being of Malays and Islam should not be achieved at the expense of marginalised communities.
“No country will be stable and effective when you continue to try and discriminate (and) marginalise any segment of your population.
“It’s important to effectively communicate to them that yes, (the) majority of Malaysians are Muslims and Malays. Yes, Islam is the religion of the federation. Yes, Malay is the official language.
“But, we have to accept the presence of our brothers and sisters – whether they’re ethnic Chinese, (or) Indian (practising) Hinduism, or Buddhism or Christianity – as part of the Malaysian family.”
During the state elections in August, the Pakatan Harapan (PH) and Barisan Nasional (BN) alliance secured their mandate in three states while Kedah, Kelantan, and Terengganu remained under the PN administration.
CFR is an independent think-tank that specialises in foreign policies and international relations, with its members including renowned academicians, established politicians and corporate figures who gather to generate intellectual conversation on relevant topics. – October 2, 2023